The Rise to City-State
Lee Kuan Yew's Vision (1965–2015)
What followed was one of the most astonishing economic miracles in history. Lee Kuan Yew ruled with an iron hand and a clear strategy:
- Education: English as the lingua franca (and a prerequisite for economic ascent), first-class schools and universities.
- Anti-corruption: Zero-tolerance policy — officials are well-paid (ministers earn millions), but corruption is punished with draconian penalties.
- Business-friendliness: Low taxes, efficient bureaucracy, first-class infrastructure — Singapore became the most attractive location for multinational corporations in Asia.
- Housing: The HDB program (Housing & Development Board) ensured that over 80% of the population live in government-built apartments — with ethnic quotas to prevent segregation.
- Cleanliness & Order: Strict laws against littering (300 SGD fine), chewing gum ban (since 1992), high penalties for vandalism (caning). The result: one of the cleanest cities in the world.
The result: In just one generation, Singapore rose from a third-world country to the richest country in the world (by GDP per capita). Lee Kuan Yew, the "founding father," died in 2015 — the entire country mourned. His legacy is controversial (restrictions on press freedom, death penalty, one-party rule), but undeniably transformative.
